Towson University's cheerleaders accept social probation; Records to be sealed

Nick DiMarco

6:33 PM, Sep 13, 2013

8:45 PM, Sep 13, 2013

A snapshot shows the Towson University cheer team brandishing a first-place trophy for the National Cheerleaders Association from 2013. [Twitter]

TOWSON, Md. - Towson cheerleaders will not further appeal to the university president to modify a decision to ban the team from performing on- or off-campus for the fall semester., it was announced Friday afternoon.

The team was initially suspended for the academic year and barred from practicing or performing on- and off-campus following an investigation into alleged hazing on the team's part.

The university will not release a copy of the incident report, which would likely detail the findings of the investigation, as it would be a violation of the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Ray Feldmann, a Towson spokesman said in a release.

"Following consultation with the Maryland Attorney General's office regarding the release of the incident report detailing the allegations against the cheerleading team, it has been determined that the report is a confidential student record protected against disclosure under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)," the release states.

The team was instead mandated to complete 650 hours of community service and would only be barred from performing on- or off-campus during the fall semester. The team can practice on-campus under the new decision. The team will also have to attend three educational workshops.

Timeline:

Early August: University administrators are presented with a complaint that the team violated the school's hazing policy.

Aug. 7: The university launched an investigation.

Aug. 23: The team is charged with three violations of the university's code of conduct, specifically the school's hazing policy. Administrators suspend the team for the academic year.